diff --git a/src/common/i18n.py b/src/common/i18n.py
index 072c252668b1db95213b6d48ad7a878cd17d4e1b..fa82917314cdf0890383ccaa30cba016829a68f2 100644
--- a/src/common/i18n.py
+++ b/src/common/i18n.py
@@ -26,12 +26,9 @@ import gettext
 import os
 import defs
 import unicodedata
-import gtk
 
-if gtk.widget_get_default_direction() == gtk.TEXT_DIR_LTR:
-    direction_mark = u'\u200E'
-else:
-    direction_mark = u'\u200F'
+# May be changed after GTK is imported
+direction_mark = u'\u200F'
 
 def paragraph_direction_mark(text):
     """
diff --git a/src/gajim.py b/src/gajim.py
index 6df31225bf6a3b36d8cd4e1956823e8d31c4f7fc..7acfe864b2f27d1e0aaa7644cdea7e60cfccf465 100644
--- a/src/gajim.py
+++ b/src/gajim.py
@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ warnings.resetwarnings()
 if os.name == 'nt':
     warnings.filterwarnings(action='ignore')
 
+if gtk.widget_get_default_direction() == gtk.TEXT_DIR_LTR:
+    i18n.direction_mark = u'\u200E'
 pritext = ''
 
 from common import exceptions